Air permeable mask

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a mask providing oxygen and removing water vapor in which a functional layer for oxygen production, moisture removal and better air quality is embedded; the functional layer can be inserted between an outer layer and an inner layer of the mask, taken as an inner layer or a sole layer, or held in a receiving pocket or attach/adhere to an innermost side of the mask; the functional layer comprises metal peroxide, metal superoxide, metal oxide and nonmetal oxide to remove water vapor and provide oxygen; the metal peroxide is selected from the group consisting of magnesium peroxide, potassium peroxide, sodium peroxide and calcium peroxide; the metal superoxide comprises potassium superoxide or sodium superoxide; the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and sodium oxide; the nonmetal oxide can be silicon dioxide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a health mask, particularly an air permeable mask providing oxygen and removing water vapor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Oxygen, the natural resource available in environment, is basic instinct of human being to live. However, ambient air quality as well as demand and supply of oxygen in a human body have been changed with variable living conditions and life styles which imperil health of modern people, for example, “chronic hypoxia syndrome” with symptoms including inertia, weakness, memory loss, upset, difficulty in sleeping, reactivity weakened and attention deficit

Sunlight, air and water are three essential elements for lives. In this regard, air implies oxygen which is critical to functions of a human body and inhaled through breathing. Oxygen diffused into capillaries through alveolar membranes of pulmonary alveoli attaches to hemoglobin of red blood cells. Oxygenated blood is then pumped through the heart and continuously circulated through the whole body and organs are thereby nourished by fresh oxygen. The human body is energized by oxygen. When blood is fully oxygenated, organs in the human body will function well. In contrast, when blood is short of oxygen, organs in the human body are prone to dysfunction and disease.

In a modern society, more and more people beset by severe environmental pollution, work stress and hectic lives suffer from conditions commonly associated with chronic hypoxia. For example, fatigue, waist pain, backache, yawn, drowsiness, dizziness, distraction, headache, eyestrain, etc. common in office workers working long hours may derive from chronic hypoxia. Symptoms of chronic hypoxia may include, for example, hand numbness, skin pallor, vertigo, blurred vision, poor creativity, blurred thinking, and similar signs of compromised performance. Moreover, some people exhibit chronic fatigue symptoms which may be attributed to hypoxia-related dysfunction.

Such and other disease and dysfunction results from the biochemistry underlying the metabolism of glucose. With oxygen, glucose can be converted into energy, i.e., metabolized under aerobic respiration. Without oxygen, glucose is converted, or metabolized, to produce, lactic acid under anaerobic respiration. Without adequate oxygen to metabolize sufficient glucose to support relevant physiologic performance of the body, excess lactic acid build up after exercise cause muscle soreness.

In addition to oxygen deficit, humid environment may also be detrimental to health. For example, east coast is characteristic of high relative humidity all year around which discomforts residents in summer time particularly. In contrast to 60%, the relative humidity best for human being, the humidity, 100%, in east coast during the rainy season, making walls and clothing moldy, and jeopardizing health. In environments with high temperature and humidity environments, rampant bacteria, viruses and allergens are associated with ailments, such as allergy, asthma, athlete's foot and dermatitis. In addition, humidity may cause excessive leeching of harmful chemicals from building materials which may then contaminate the surrounding environment. Thus, inhabitants of perpetually high humidity environments may suffer from disorders.

The morbidity of asthma will be increased by 3% with indoor humidity rising 10% according to research in Germany; furthermore, dust mite and mold prefer environment in which the relative humidity is more than 70%.

A direct correlation of humidity with allergic conditions is supported by research of the University of Otago, New Zealand studying 46,000 children in 20 countries, whom lived in damp moldy apartments were determined to harbor a higher incidence of allergy-related ailments such as asthma, hay fever and eczema.

Humid environment has further been found to have a debilitating impact on blood pressure. In addition, high humidity may also increase the risk of stroke of a patient suffering from cardiovascular disease in humid weather.

More and more people wear masks to guard against air pollutants or an infectious agent. Wearing mask can filter the dust and bacteria from inhaled air but sometimes induce discomfort by mask contact.

Unfortunately, however, when a mask is worn for an extended time, it causes discomfort. Moreover, poor air quality resulting from accumulated exhaled carbon dioxide and water vapor is exhaled inside of the mask reduces the amount of oxygen inhaled by the mask user as compared to breathing the surrounding open space.

Therefore, a need persists to provide mask which can not only remove dust and bacteria but also provide oxygen and remove water vapor to promote air quality inside the mask.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Addressing such and other to provide an air-permeable mask providing oxygen and removing water vapor in which a functional layer for oxygen production and moisture removal.

For this purpose, the functional layer is embedded between an outer layer and an inner layer of the air-permeable mask.

For this purpose, the functional layer is the inner layer of the air-permeable mask.

For this purpose, the functional layer is replaceable and held in a receiving pocket of the air-permeable mask.

For this purpose, the functional layer attaches or adheres to an innermost side of the air-permeable mask.

For this purpose, the functional layer is the sole layer of the air-permeable mask.

For this purpose, the functional layer is made of an air-permeable material comprising an oxide, wherein the oxide is a metal peroxide to remove water vapor and provide oxygen.

For this purpose, the metal peroxide in the functional layer is selected from the group consisting of magnesium peroxide, potassium peroxide, sodium peroxide and calcium peroxide.

For this purpose, the oxide is a metal superoxide to remove water vapor and provide oxygen.

For this purpose, the metal superoxide comprises potassium superoxide or sodium superoxide.

For this purpose, the oxide further comprises a metal oxide or nonmetal oxide.

For this purpose, the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and sodium oxide.

For this purpose, the nonmetal oxide is silicon dioxide.

For this purpose, the oxide is a powdered or fine granulated substance.

For this purpose, the oxide is selected from the group consisting of metal peroxide, metal superoxide, metal oxide and nonmetal oxide.

For this purpose, the air-permeable mask is a cotton mask, a gauze mask, a paper mask, a surgical mask, an activated carbon mask or an N95 respirator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an air-permeable mask with a functional layer held between an outer layer and an inner layer of the air-permeable mask to remove water vapor and provide oxygen;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an air-permeable mask with a functional layer held between an interlayer and an inner layer of the multi-layered air-permeable mask to remove water vapor and provide oxygen in a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an air-permeable mask with a functional layer which is taken as an inner layer held in the air-permeable mask to remove water vapor and provide oxygen in a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an air-permeable mask with a functional layer which is taken as a sole layer to remove water vapor and provide oxygen in a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic of an air-permeable mask with a functional layer which is flexibly replaced and held in a receiving pocket of the air-permeable mask to remove water vapor and provide oxygen in a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An air-permeable mask providing oxygen and removing water vapor is explained in but not limited to the following embodiments.

The present disclosure relates to an air-permeable mask which comprises at least a functional layer for removing water vapor and providing oxygen. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air-permeable mask has multiple layers as follows: outer layer (4), inner layer (1), interlayer (2) and functional layer (3). The interlayer (2) is embedded between the outer layer (4) and the inner layer (1) of the air-permeable mask; the functional layer (3) is situated between the interlayer (2) and the inner layer (1) of the air-permeable mask; the outer layer (4) is a layer of the air-permeable mask to contact ambient environment; the inner layer (1) is a layer of the air-permeable mask to contact a human face. Alternatively, the functional layer (3) is an inner layer in the air-permeable mask (FIG. 3) or a sole layer in the air-permeable mask (FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 5, the air-permeable mask is equipped with a receiving pocket (5) in which the functional layer (3) is held for flexible replacement; the functional layer (3) attaches or adheres to an innermost side of the air-permeable mask; the functional layer (3) comprises an oxide or even a metal peroxide; the oxide can be metal superoxide; the oxide may further comprise metal oxide and nonmetal oxide; the air-permeable mask comprises the functional layer (3) which is competent to removing water vapor, providing oxygen and regulating air quality inside the air-permeable mask. The functional layer (3) in the air-permeable mask comprises powdered or fine granulated metal peroxide, metal superoxide, metal oxide or nonmetal oxide or a combination of two and more oxides, peroxides and superoxides.

Embodiment 1

Chemical reaction of magnesium peroxide in water:

2MgO₂+2H₂O→2Mg(OH)₂+O₂

Magnesium hydroxide and oxygen are produced when magnesium peroxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture and increasing oxygen which is produced when ambient moisture reacts with magnesium peroxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 2

Chemical reaction of calcium peroxide in carbon dioxide:

2CaO₂+2CO₂→2CaCO₃+O₂

Calcium carbonate and oxygen are produced when calcium peroxide reacts with carbon dioxide. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing carbon dioxide in ambient environment and increasing oxygen which is produced when carbon dioxide in ambient environment reacts with calcium peroxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 3

Chemical reaction of potassium peroxide in water:

K₂O₂+2H₂O→2KOH+O₂

Potassium hydroxide and oxygen are produced when potassium peroxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture and increasing oxygen which is produced when ambient moisture reacts with potassium peroxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 4

Chemical reaction of sodium peroxide in water:

Na₂O₂+2H₂O→2NaOH+O₂

Sodium hydroxide and oxygen are produced when sodium peroxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture and increasing oxygen which is produced when ambient moisture reacts with sodium peroxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 5

Chemical reaction of calcium peroxide in water:

2CaO₂+2H₂O→2Ca(OH)₂+O₂

Calcium hydroxide and oxygen are produced when calcium peroxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture and increasing oxygen which is produced when ambient moisture reacts with calcium peroxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 6

Chemical reaction of magnesium oxide in water:

MgO+H₂O→Mg(OH)₂

Magnesium hydroxide is produced when magnesium oxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture which reacts with magnesium oxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 7

Chemical reaction of calcium oxide in water:

CaO+H₂O→Ca(OH)₂

Calcium hydroxide is produced when calcium oxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture which reacts with calcium oxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 8

Chemical reaction of sodium oxide in water:

Na₂O+H₂O→2NaOH

Sodium hydroxide is produced when sodium oxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture which reacts with sodium oxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 9

Chemical reaction of silicon dioxide in water:

SiO₂+H₂O→H₂SiO₃

Silicic acid is produced when silicon dioxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture which reacts with silicon dioxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 10

Chemical reaction of potassium superoxide in water:

2KO₂+2H₂O→2KOH+H₂O₂+O₂

Potassium hydroxide and oxygen are produced when sodium superoxide reacts with water. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing ambient moisture and increasing oxygen when ambient moisture reacts with potassium superoxide in the air-permeable mask.

Embodiment 11

Chemical reaction of potassium superoxide in carbon dioxide:

4KO₂+2CO₂→2K₂CO₃+3O₂

Potassium carbonate and oxygen are produced when potassium superoxide reacts with carbon dioxide. Therefore, the air-permeable mask contributes to decreasing carbon dioxide in ambient environment and increasing oxygen when carbon dioxide reacts with potassium superoxide in the air-permeable mask.

Corrosive substances such as peroxide optionally held in the functional layer of the air-permeable mask should be further considered; alkaline-earth metal safer than alkaline metal for the human body is preferred and mixed with alkaline metal moderately in practice for good effect. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An air-permeable mask providing oxygen and removing water vapor, comprising a functional layer for oxygen production and moisture removal.
 2. The air-permeable mask of claim 1, wherein said functional layer is embedded between an outer layer and an inner layer of the air-permeable mask.
 3. The air-permeable mask of claim 1, wherein said functional layer is the inner layer of the air-permeable mask.
 4. The air-permeable mask of claim 1, wherein said functional layer is replaceable and held in a receiving pocket of the air-permeable mask.
 5. The air-permeable mask of claim 1, wherein said functional layer attaches or adheres to an innermost side of the air-permeable mask.
 6. The air-permeable mask of claim 1, wherein said functional layer is the sole layer of the air-permeable mask.
 7. The air-permeable mask of claim 1, wherein said functional layer is made of an air-permeable material comprising an oxide having a metal peroxide to remove water vapor and provide oxygen.
 8. The air-permeable mask of claim 7, wherein said metal peroxide in the functional layer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: magnesium peroxide, potassium peroxide, sodium peroxide, and calcium peroxide.
 9. The air-permeable mask of claim 7, wherein said oxide comprises a powdered or fine granulated substance.
 10. The air-permeable mask as recited in claim 7, wherein said oxide comprises at least a member selected from the group consisting of: metal peroxide, metal superoxide, metal oxide, and nonmetal oxide.
 11. The air-permeable mask of claim 7, wherein said oxide is a metal superoxide to remove water vapor and provide oxygen.
 12. The air-permeable mask of claim 11 wherein said metal superoxide comprises at least a member selected from the group consisting of: potassium superoxide, and sodium superoxide.
 13. An air-permeable mask providing oxygen and removing water vapor, comprising a functional layer for oxygen production and moisture removal, wherein said functional layer is made of an air-permeable material comprising an oxide having a metal peroxide to remove water vapor and provide oxygen, and wherein said oxide is selected from the group consisting of: a metal oxide, and a nonmetal oxide.
 14. The air-permeable mask of claim 13, wherein said metal oxide comprises at least a member selected from the group consisting of: magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, and sodium oxide.
 15. The air-permeable mask of claim 13, wherein said nonmetal oxide is silicon dioxide.
 16. The air-permeable mask of claim 1, wherein the air-permeable mask comprises at least a member selected from the group consisting of: cotton, gauze, paper, a surgical function, an activated carbon, and an N95 respirator. 